Every year on September 21, Russians take to the streets as cities around the country shut down roads for runners to mark the All-Russian Running Day. Marathon events took place in major cities across the country, including Moscow, Kazan and Omsk.
Every year on September 21, Russians take to the streets as cities around the country shut down roads for runners to mark the National Day of Running.
Above: Participants of the Moscow Marathon 2014
Above: Participants of the Moscow Marathon 2014
Marathon events took place in major cities across the country, including Moscow, Kazan and Omsk.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan, near the Kazan Arena Stadium.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan, near the Kazan Arena Stadium.
Russia has been celebrating the National Day of Running since 2004.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan, near the Kazan Arena Stadium.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan, near the Kazan Arena Stadium.
In 2006 over 700 thousand people in 86 cities participated in the event. In 2007 the there were over a million participants in 133 cities.
Above: Head of the Tatarstan Traffic Police Department Rifkat Minnikhanov takes part in the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan.
Above: Head of the Tatarstan Traffic Police Department Rifkat Minnikhanov takes part in the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan.
The event is divided in two stages. The preliminary races take part on the third Sunday each September in the cities all over Russia.
Above: Russian modern penthatlete and Olympic champion of 2000 Dmitry Svatkovskiy and Russian disc thrower and 2004 Olympic champion Natalia Sadova take part in the National Cross Country Race 2014 at in Nizhny Novgorod.
Above: Russian modern penthatlete and Olympic champion of 2000 Dmitry Svatkovskiy and Russian disc thrower and 2004 Olympic champion Natalia Sadova take part in the National Cross Country Race 2014 at in Nizhny Novgorod.
The winners and awardees of the preliminary stage can then participate in the event's Gran Prix which takes part in Moscow a week after the conclusion of the first stage.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Chelyabinsk.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Chelyabinsk.
Despite its name, the race is not cross country in nature - the heats usually take place at stadiums or on highways.
Above: Participants of the XXV Siberian International Marathon in Omsk.
Above: Participants of the XXV Siberian International Marathon in Omsk.
The Moscow marathon was won by Kenya's Solomon Kibet Barngetuni. In Omsk, another native of Kenya, John Kyui, has won the XXV Siberian International Marathon.
Above: Kenya's John Kyui, the winner of the XXV Siberian International Marathon in Omsk, at the finishing line.
Above: Kenya's John Kyui, the winner of the XXV Siberian International Marathon in Omsk, at the finishing line.
The Marathon is part of a series of similar events taking place in Moscow in and around Luzhniki sports complex. These include a “Color Race”, where entrants are painted beforehand, the “Music Half Marathon” where bands and music are set up the length of the course, and a “Night Race” where participants don headlamps and take to the darkened streets.
Above: Participant of the Moscow Marathon 2014.
Above: Participant of the Moscow Marathon 2014.
People from all walks of life and of all ages are welcome to participate in the event.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan, near the Kazan Arena Stadium.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 in Kazan, near the Kazan Arena Stadium.
Over 12,356 people registered to attempt the 42.2 km course of the Moscow event. Traffic in the city center was restricted throughout the morning as police and city officials created a pedestrian only zone for the runners.
Above: Participants of the Moscow Marathon 2014
Above: Participants of the Moscow Marathon 2014
The primary goal of the event is to promote healthy lifestyle and physical fitness among the Russian citizens.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 at the Minin and Pozharsky Square in Nizhny Novgorod.
Above: Participants of the National Cross Country Race 2014 at the Minin and Pozharsky Square in Nizhny Novgorod.
The first Moscow Marathon was held in 2013, with 2366 participants. Ukraine's Alexander Matveychuk was the winner.
Above: Participants of the Moscow Marathon 2014
Above: Participants of the Moscow Marathon 2014
